Illinois (17-10-3, 37 pts.) had played just about every type of game against ranked opponents entering Saturday night. It had been blown out by No. 5 Jamestown, kept things close against No. 1 Minot State and was just outplayed by No. 7 Purdue Northwest.
However, there is one thing Illinois hadn’t done in its first seven contests: win. Illinois had only led against a ranked team once when it jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Minot State back in September.
That made Saturday all the more surprising when the Illini held a 2-0 lead on the Purdue Northwest Pride, now No. 18 (14-8-4, 32 pts.).
Saved best for last
The Pride earned the victory, 3-1, in the series opener on Friday, snapping the Illini’s six-game win streak. That loss also meant that the Illini now held a 0-7 record against ranked opponents this season, with only one chance left to grab that elusive win.
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Freshman forward David Ras opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game on Saturday. Ras, who scored the lone Illini goal Friday, is now tied with fellow freshman forward Carson Mitchell for the team lead in goals (14).
Illinois doubled its lead early in the second period when junior forward Gregory Etingen lit the lamp for the first time since October. Etingen notched a hat trick during the season opener but missed most of November and all of December.
Pride defenseman Brennan Schidlowsky got one back in the closing seconds of the period to make it a 2-1 game. It wouldn’t stay that way for long, however. Senior forward John McLaughlin restored Illinois’ two-goal lead in the opening minutes of the third to put the team up 3-1.
That lead was more than enough. Senior goaltender Nolan Woodring was perfect the rest of the way, even as the Pride put 20 shots on the senior in that period alone. Woodring finished the night 37/38 on saves.
One more show
Illinois has just one series left this season: a homestand against its in-state rival Illinois State. It will be the last ride for the team’s seniors, a group that includes team president and starting goaltender Woodring.
“Going into the last home weekend of my career is crazy, (it) seems like I just got to U of I,” Woodring said. “I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to play for this program and be a part of the hockey community in Champaign. I’m going to cherish every second I get to spend on the ice.”
The Illini hit the ice for the final time this season at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
@BrendanGallian
